Russia-Abkhazia Partnership Treaty Not Threat to Other Countries: Moscow

Commenting on the results of the 30th round of the Geneva discussions on security in the Transcaucasus region held on December 9-10, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Georgia's strive to join NATO may lead to the deterioration of the security situation in the region.

MOSCOW, December 10 (Sputnik) — A new treaty envisaging closer military and economic ties between Russia and Abkhazia is not threatening security of other countries, including Georgia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Commenting on the results of the 30th round of the Geneva discussions on security in the Transcaucasus region held on December 9-10, the ministry said that Georgia's strive to join NATO and the alliance's plans to build its military infrastructure on the territory of the country leads to the deterioration of the security situation in the region.

"In that context, representatives of Russia and Abkhazia have assured other participants of the talks that the Treaty on strategic partnership between the two countries, signed on November 24, is aimed at strengthening Abkhazia's statehood and defense capability and does not contain any provisions that could threaten other countries, including Georgia," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian Foreign Ministry also noted that Moscow calls for speeding-up the elaboration of the legally binding agreements on the non-use of force between Sukhumi, Tskhinvali and Tbilisi.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and another breakaway Georgian province, South Ossetia, as independent states in August 2008 following a five-day war with Georgia. In response to that, Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Moscow and declared the two Caucasian republics occupied territories.

On November 24, in the southern Russian city of Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abkhazia's President Raul Hajimba signed a strategic agreement on foreign policy, security, defense and economic cooperation. Later that week the US Department of State said that the United States will not recognize the treaty amid its concerns that Abkhazia is falling further under the control of Russia.

The Geneva discussions on security in the Transcaucasus region under the auspices of the UN, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is currently the only international forum, aimed at maintaining the dialogue between Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia. Russia and the United States also participate in the talks.

The next round of the Geneva discussions is scheduled to take place on March 17-18. According to the Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, the discussions' co-chairs from the United Nations and OSCE will visit the countries of the region prior to next meeting. They are also planning to visit Moscow on February.